More support for mature age job seekers

The Coalition Government is seeking applications from organisations to deliver an expanded program which helps mature age job seekers re-enter the workforce or transition to a new career.

Career Transition Assistance is currently operating in five trial regions. It delivers tailored support to Australians over 50, boosting their skills, strengthening their resilience, teaching new job-search techniques, and helping them better understand their local jobs market.

Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations, and Minister for Women, the Hon Kelly O’Dwyer MP, said whilst both men and women will benefit from the scheme, mature age women stand to benefit in particular.

"A key priority for our Government is to create the right economic settings for women to help them participate in work, increase their economic security and give them meaningful choices about their lives,” Minister O’Dwyer said.

"Mature age women face particular hurdles when entering the workforce, particularly if they have spent long periods of time in caring or domestic roles. These women often need support to identify how their skills and experience would be valuable to an employer.

"I urge experienced organisations that can demonstrate success delivering services that will ensure older men and women can re-skill and re-enter the workforce in their local communities to apply.”

The Government announced in the 2018–19 Budget that it would bring forward the national rollout of Career Transition Assistance by 12 months, lowering the eligibility to 45 to 49-year-olds to help older Australians increase their job readiness and, if required, develop digital literacy.

Respondents will need to demonstrate their experience to successfully deliver employment-related services that meet the needs of mature age job seekers in their local communities.